South Asian Business news and information

World Cup Cricket 2007 is going to take place with a record number of 16 teams. Among the 16 teams, 6 are non-test playing countries and the rest of the teams are the members of the Test Cricket family. However, some experts do not like to see so many minnows in this biggest occasion of cricket as the matches are likely to be one-sided where, they think, the excitement of the cricket will remain absent. However, there are some people who support the inclusion of the associate members of the ICC as, to them, it will help the weaker teams to learn and make them more experienced playing against the cricket powers of the world.

International Herald Tribune reported:

Known better for ice-hockey, soccer and Gaelic sports, Canada, the Netherlands and Ireland are three of the 16 teams in cricket's World Cup, starting in the Caribbean on March 13.

Along with Scotland and Bermuda, they're not expected to get far, and their realistic expectation is to win a match against a fellow outsider. And try to avoid setting an unwanted statistical record.

What chance does Scotland and the Netherlands have against South Africa and defending champion Australia? Former West Indies great Michael Holding fears one-sided matches.

"What is gained by a team playing in the World Cup and getting absolutely hammered?" Holding said. "In my opinion, it's counterproductive."

I feel that Cricket should not remain as an exclusive game. We cannot find the same kind of madness for cricket as we can find for football. The main reason is that cricket officials in ICC and other countries have been slow to react to the changing world. ICC should go for expansion and next time (2011) ICC should expand World Cup to 24 teams.

Do you agree with me?